Ttorneys



(No Model.)

J. D. MILLER.

DRAFT ATTACHMENT FOR CARS.

Patented Aug. 5, 1 884.

INVENTOR WITNESSES M TTORNEYS NITED' STATES ATENT 'FFICE.

' JOHN D. MILLER, OF ANACOSTIA, ASSIGNOR Oh ONE-HALF TO CHARLES WHITE,OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

DRAFT ATTACHMENT FOR CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 303,033, dated August5, 1884.

Application filed June 4, 1884. (No model.

To all whom it may concern: a sufficient distance to give the properline to Beit known that I, JOHN D. MILLER, acitithe draft, and thenextends directly forward zen of the United States, residing at Anacosandterminates in a bifurcated portion, 0, to tia, in the District ofColumbia, have invented which the draft-lever D is pivot-ally connected5 5 certain new and useful Improvements in Draft by means of a bolt orother suitable device. Attachments for Cars, of which the following Inorder to maintain the portion of the is a specification, reference beinghad therein draft-bar against lateral displacement, incito theaccompanying drawings. dent to the animals pulling out of a direct Thisinvention relates to certain new and line, I provide the divergingbraces E, the 60 no useful improvements in draft attachments for samebeing connected to said portion at one vehicles; and it has specialreference to those end by the bolt F, and to the platform or car used onrailway-cars. It has for its objects, structure at the other. The upperend or first, to provideayielding connection between longer arm of thedraft-lever D is bifurcated the single-tree or other appliance to whichthe horizontally, so as to receive the single-tree 65 I traces of theharness are hitched and the car G, a pivotal connection being providedheor other vehicle, whereby the jerk and jar on tween the two. The lowerend or shorter arm the draft-animaPs shoulders, incident to startof thesaid lever is terminated in a flaring head ing, is effectually overcomeor avoided; and, or disk, H, from which rearwardly projects second, toprovide such an attachment with a a pin, I, over which is fitted anindiarub- 70 2o spring or yielding device which will stand the hersleeve, J, the sleeve being slightly longer strain incident to drawingthe ear continuously than the pin, for a purpose which shall presalongafter once started, and another for withently appear. This sleeve isprovided with a standing the severe strainincident to startingcircumferential flange or bead, J, against or overcoming the inertia ofthe car. With which abuts one end of the spiral spring K, r these endsin view the invention is essenthe same being snugly fitted over thesleeve. tially in a draft-iron adapted to be firmly at- The opposite orlower portion of the draft-iron tached to the car, and a lever pivotally0011- B is also of disk form, and is provided with a nected thereto, tothe longer arm of which the forwardly-proj ecting pin, I, over which isalso single-tree is connected,while from the shorter fitted a sleeve, K,corresponding to that above So arm a pin projects rearwardly, andcarries a described. The rear end of the spring K fits rubber or otheryielding sleeve, over which is over this sleeve and its end abutsagainst the fitted one end of a spiral spring, the oppositecircumferential flange or head formed thereon. portion of the draft-ironbeing also provided The normal position of the draft-lever is such witha like pin and sleeve, over the latter of that the spirals of the springstand apart, and S 5 5 which the other end of the spiral spring is theends of the sleeves remain separated; but fitted. when the animal startsforward and the traces In the accompanying drawings, forming a becometightened the strain through the sin part of this specification, and onwhich like gletree is transmitted to the draft-lever, andreference-letters indicate corresponding i'eaits lower end thrownagainst the spiral spring, 0 4o tures, Figure 1 represents a perspectiveview which is thereby compressed until the oppo of my improved draftattachment as applied site ends of the india-rubher sleeves meet and toa street-car, the forward part of the latter receive adegree ofcompression commensurate being also shown; and Fig. 2, a side elevationwith the strain produced in overcoming the of the attachment detachedfrom the car. inertia of the car. The protruding ends of the 5 5 Theletter A designates the platform or forsleeves, beyond the pins, allowof their comward part of a streetcar of the ordinary or pression withoutbringing the pins themselves any approvedi'orm, and the letter B thedraft in contact, and the flanges on the sleeves afiron or bar, the samebeing preferably conford a yielding seat or shoulder for the endsstructed of wrought-iron, and bolted or otherofthe spring, and at thesame time prevent I00 wise strongly secured to the car strudture. wearand rattling of the parts.

This bar projects upwardly at its forward end It is obvious that by aslight modification in the arrangement of the several features of myinvention it may be adapted to two-horse draft appliances.

Letters Patent, is

1. In a draft attachment, the combination, with the lever or bar adaptedto be'connected at or near one end with a single or other tree, of thedraft-bar pivotally connected thereto, and the springs interposedbetween the said lever and draft-bar, one of which is adapted to resistthe draft-strain incident to drawing the car continuously, and both ofwhich are adapted to resist the strain incident to overcoming theinertia in starting the car.

2. In a draft attachment, the combination, with the lever or bar adaptedto be connected to the single or other tree, and provided at one endwith a yielding sleeve, of the draftbar pivotally connected to saidlever, and pro vided with a distinct yielding sleeve, and the springfitted over said sleeves and interposed between the lever and draft-bar,whereby the strain exerted by the draft animal is yieldingly resisted. 1

3. In a draft attachment, the combination. with the lever or bar adaptedto be connected at one end with a single or other tree, and having atthe other a projecting pin and a yielding sleeve mounted thereon, of thedraft-bar pivotally-connected to saidlever, and provided with a distinctpin and sleeve, the said sleeves having flanges and extending beyond thepins, and the spiral spring interposed between the lever and draft-barand mounted upon said sleeves, and adapted to bear against the flangesthereof.

4. In a draft attachment, the combination, with the draft-barterminating at one end in a bifurcation, and having a projecting pin andI a longer yielding flanged sleeve mounted thereon, of the lever or barpivotally connected thereto, and having a projecting pin and a longerflanged yielding sleeve mounted thereon, the spiral spring fitted oversaid sleeves and adapted to bear against the flanges, and the bracesconnected to the draft-bar, and adapted to be bolted or secured to thecar structure.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN D. MILLER.

Witnesses:

ROBINSON WHITE. EDWIN L. BRADFORD.

